Electric signaling system for railroads



Dec. 22,1925Q 1,566,555

' J. JQMILLER ELECTRIC SIGNALING sys'mu FOR RAILROADS v Filed Aug. 9, 1922 Q 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 J T014 Miller;

. J. J. MILLER ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS' Filed Aug. 9, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1925- Filed Aug. 9, 1922 J. J. MILLER ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 {Z JZ J3 J6 %/l J0 Jalut JML Z enqgn'venior;

v signals in either case. This'may be accomp the moving Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

j UNITED f's JOHN J. MILLER, or Gamma I'LLI'NoiSJ ELEQTRIO srer ALrnG srs'rnlvr iron RAILROADS.

" Application-filcd Au ust a, 19'22.;{seria1 1w 580,678.

To all 10710122 it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN J. MILLER, a citi zen oi" the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have inventedcertain new and use- I iul Improvements in-an'Electric Signaling- System for Railroads; and I do hereby declarethe following to bea full, clealjand exact description of the inventlon, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signaling systems,and has forits principal object the provision of an electri cally operatedequi'pm'ent for signaling to be used on steam railroads and all intersecting highways, public and private, or the llke,

wherein the electricity is produced on the train by a" belt or other means from the revolving wheels to a dynamo, the latter furnishing electricity directly to the signaling system, or indirectly through a storagebattery.

One of the principal objects of this inven-i tion isthe provision of a signaling system for railroads which will be automatically operated on other lines besides the line upon" which the train is running, and which need not be restricted to the ordinary signaling means and objects now in use. Thepla'n provides :for operating signals, switches, gates, etc, at any road crossing or' at any point on the right-of-way, as well as for signaling to intersecting lines, all of which is accomplished by the device of the' in vention. 7

'Another important object of this invention is'the provisionof an electric. signaling system for railroads which will indicate positively whether the train in a block is moving or standing still, and will operate plished by separate connections with a dynamo, and with a storage battery-on the moving train so provided that theconnections with the dynamo indicate that. the

train is in motion, and those with the battery still. I

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an electric signaling system for railroads or the like, whereby signals are operated both in advance and in the rear of train on 1ts own line, as' well as on intersecting lines as desired.

One of theparticular objects of this intionwith the device illustratedin indicate that the train is standing,

train dynamoor battery through" ordinary. brush or other means moving with the train to a signaling equipment, a

ve'ntion is the provision ofan insulated rail for carrying electric currentfrom-the Other and further important objects of this'invention will be apparent from the dis? closures in the. accompanying drawings and following spec'ific'ations..- I i i The 'invention in preferred-form, is";

illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described. l 1 In the'dr'awings':

ig. 1 is a plan viewofa-railroad crossing showing diagrammatically one' of the improved signaling arrangements olth-is in" vention. I I .-Fig.*'2 is a sectional view, 1showing the method of application of the moving brushes carried on {the car to third rail.

the main} rail and to'the Fig; 3' is aplan view similar to l -igiyl,-

showing an arrangement whereby both or either a generator or battery may be usedto operate thesignalingmeans I "j T .Fig; 4. 's a sectional View showing the third rail connection to be used in connec-I I Fig 3? Figrois a plan view showing .the invention as applied toa block ina singlejline of V track with the crossing eliminatedr sa V.

Fig. '6 is a view similar to Fig. 5' showing p battery connections are used." As shown in the drawings:: 1 l p The reference numeral 10 indicates generally i the truck or supporting wheels of the invention wherein both generator and a train or'car" adapted to be driven or pro-- pelle-d along rails 12. The car is provided with a generator. 14operated by a belt15," or other suitable means driven from the axle of the wheel 10 in an obvious manner.

In connection with the generator 14 is pro- Vi vided a storage battery, asillustratedatflti,

connected in parallel'with the'generator, and

with connection to the'third rail 18 andto V the main rail 12 ofthe track. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and'4 the wi'res' 20' and' 22pass from the generator 14 through an'au'tomatie cutout 24 then to the two terminals of the battery. 16, and" are thence connectedto I i proper terminals on thebru'shes designated as 26 and 28 respectively, and applied upon the main rail 12 third ran 18, as illus trated in Fig; 2, pr anyotherconvenientf *form or current 'carrying 'mean's.

Fig. 1, as hereinbefore stated, illustrates a crossing of two different lines of railroads,

wherein signaling means are provided to. Warn trains on one line coming from either direction, of the approach to the crossing, of trains on the otherline from either direction. For purposes of convenience, the trains coming into the crossing are designated as Roman Nos. 1, II, III and IV, g0-

ing around the drawing in an vanticlockwise ,directio and the respective circuits and signaling systems operated by such trains will be likewise so designated by Arabic numerals, It .will be -seen that the circuit consisting of conductors, to signals operated by trainNo-l upon its approach to thecrossin'g, is designated by the numeral 1, and this circuit of the brushes 26 and28 is completedby the contact with the third rail 18 and main-rail 12, which contact may be out along the track 12 tro nthe crossing within the block for anyjdesired distance.

If desired, the .third rail .or other conductor-on the crossing line may be utilized .to

carry current to the signals.

The third rail 18 in 'eachcase is broken.

or insulated for a short distance extending upon the farther side of the. crossing, and

is then againtaken up in the shape 0.1 an additional third rail 48 which operates .a different set oiblock signals which merely indicate the presence of the train to another train. on the same track behind the {first train, and has noconnectionwith the cross- 1 I- ing s gnals hereinoerore described. The system operated by the third rail 48 is herein llustrated for purpose .of conven- 1 ience in Fig. 1 and is morefully described inlconnection with the drawings of Fi g. 5.

Returning to Fig. '1 it will-be seen that when the. truck of train No. v1 enters within a predetermined distance from the crossing, and the brush 26 contacts with the third rail a circuit will be immediately closed,

.as ilhrtrated, by following the wires num block system and the signals in circuit therewith are. in operating condition, as all of the signals along this line are connected 1]1 series.

From the signal :1,'the.current is carried along the wire 1, as illustrated,to the signal 1", which in the drawings is shown as located adjacent the crossing, and at the righthandside of the track ,upon which train No.

nightbe approaching sa ro ing It is obvious, of course, that the signal 1 may be one or more of a plurality of signals all, in the same c rcurt,.andd stributed at dificate to the engineer of that train that.

. third .rail 34.

ferent positions back along ethe line of ap preach of train NO. 2 as ;far as :is desired or convenient, so that ample notice of the presence of train No. 1 in the block may be communicated in advance to the operator of train No. 2.

From signal 1 wire 1 is carried across thetracksof train No. 3, and here the signal may be omitted, if desired. From thence the wire or other cOHClHGt I' travels ,to signal 1, positioned at'the right-hand side of the track upon which t No. .4 might be app oa h g th 9 s and w ich, a d scribed in connection .withtrain No. 2, might consist of a plurality of signals distributed at,convenient points back along the line of approachiof train No. 4 for any desired distance -trom the crossing, and connected either in S r -r r&; e thei r h 1 rent is carried, as shown :by-the ireJ NO. 1, a to th main a 2 f th tra Of pproach of 49min No. 1, and into the brush 28 by said train. .Any other arrangement .01 circuits which ;will be equivalent .or produce the sameefiect, is part of the invention. 7

A similar condition exists with regard to the circuits operated by trains-Nos. 2, 3 and 4 re pec i y, nd cat d y t Wires an block systems designated as 2, 2 and 2; 13 n 3, an 34 and .A modificat on of the inyention .is illustrated inFigs. 3 and 4, wherein a combinaon o .sign nsmeans op l-atec by th the battery er -the generator present on the train, .or by both, it it .is desired, may be used. Hlhiscombination willibe particularly usefu i nd qatingr s h engi e o other n appro h ng t a ns Wh the th tra n which has set theqblock signal against the second train iseither. in motion or standing still, as when signals operated solely by the generatoryare in view,it will be evident that h st a i in motio and ice v s As shown in the drawings, the generator 14, driven by the trucks 10, by means of the belt 15, is provided, together with the battery l6, and wires 20'and v22 connecting the battery in parallel with the generator, and with the track 12and the third rail 18. In this figure ithere .is-sho-wn beside the wires 20;and .22, additional current carrying wires 30a .2, which a from the genera 14 to the main rail 12, and ,to an additional current carrying means :in the form of .another, third rail 34 respectively. As illu-s-' trated the wires 30 and 32 are taken .off from the generator 14 .ata point :upon the side of the cutout 24 removed from the hat.- tery 16, so that no .short circuiting off the battery will result. An additional brush 3.6, as shown in'l ig. 4, is ,providedon'thesecond As shown :in Fig. 3, in additionCto the regular system of signals 1 Wand-1 ,2", 2" and 2, etc, ,as representedin Fig; 1, an

additional series is provided designated as 1, 1 and 1 etc., operated directly by the dynamo l4, and intended to indicate that the train approaching the crossing is in -motion at the time "such indicator or signal is being operated. The circuits illustrating the,

current carrying meanswhich conveys the generator current are illustrated by wires 1 2=', 3 and a respectively. As illustrated,

the connection from the last signals 1.and '1 to the main conducting means 121s carried r by only one wire designated as No. 1, and it of signalswith a resistance element, cutout or relay, installed between the signals operated by the dynamo and generator respectively, so that the first set of signals as designated by the characters A, B and C will be operated in all events, by either the battery or the generator, and when the current is sufficient, as when the dynamo is in operation, the second set of signals, designated by D, E and F, will be additionally operated on account 01" the different voltage or amperage,

or both from the generator 14, which will operate through the resistance or through the relay, as convenient.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, a system comprising a battery 16, generator 14, third rail 4:8and main rail 12, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, is used in connection with a straight line track and a single block, whereby the presence of the train may be indicated in advance for moving purposes at crossings,

'etc., and is indicated in the rear of the passage of said train, forming a block for the train While in motion, or standing still, to

indicate its presence to the train following. The third rail is designated as 48 in order to correspond with the third rail illustrated at that point in Fig. 1, and is provided with the wire 50 leading therefrom to a signal 52 in advance of the train, from whence is connected a wire 5; leading back to. the main rail 12. In the rear of the train and adapted to be continuously operated after the passage of same, but while still in the block, is constructed a rear signaling means illustrated at 56, having a pair of wires 58 and 60 leading therefrom tothe third rail 48 and the main rail 12 respectiyely. A plurality of such signals may be used, if desired, or necessary.

As will be evident, the signals 52 and 56 will be operated as long as the train is in the block, thereby indicating the approach of the train to observers in advance, and also indicating that the same has passed by means of the signal 56, whereby other trains l b P d from running into the r thereof; p

The modification illustrated in Fig. 6 de scribes-a ,blocksys'tem similar to thatshown in ig. 5, but whicl is operated by both'tlie battery 16 and'the dynamo'lhby means of tw third rails .or other conductors 18 and34 r specti 'ely. Asisliown, the signals 52and 56 are operated means of thebatterycurrent, as in" Fig. 5,:and the signals 62'and 66 are operated byineans of the generator currentcarried through separate wires' 68 and 70 from the seconda-ry third rail 34. If desired a resistance element or cutout may be:

installed between the signals 52 and '62 and 56 and 66 respectively, so that only one set 1 of wires or one rail or other conducting means will be necessary, and with either the battery or generator, or both, ashas been hereinabove described:

' It. will be obvious that instead of the op eration of lamps for signals, the ordinary, arm block system may be installed and operated by means of this invention, or, in the sufiicient, a relay operating local batteries may be readily installed in connect-ion there- 1 with, so as to insure the positive operation ofthe system at any point. 7 Further, the'sys- 3 tem may be extended to include signals of various kinds to other vehicles besides onf coming trains, such as approaching automobiles on crossings, O1 to pedestrians or the like, and also for the operation of gates,

switches, horns,bells, etc. Further-,in the event that two converging lines crosSQeach other at an angle of less thana right angle,

the signaling' wires may, if desired, be carried directly across country to the signals by which the other train is desired to be warned.

It is preferable that theap'paratus beplaced upon the engine, coal tender, or baggage car, which will always be a part of the train, and

it is evident that only one car onthe train will be needed to carry the equipment. Many hundreds of batteries now commonly used by the average railroad system can be replaced or displaced, with great saving, and many crossings and all road intersections heretofore unprotected, can, by this method,

be protected on one or more lines with a 'j minimum of expense.

maintained at all times.

I am aware that many changes may-be. made and numerous details of construction" variedthroughout a Wide range, Without departingfrom the principles of this inven:

tion, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

event that the current is found not tobe 9 ,1 pla m my imtq txiqn I A railway grade crossing signaling sysfcgm n lud w tr s -1 ihilz tin ili iwl w t im'ck, ca ;.1a1p e -.t@@mm: 211mg t mack, 'el q-a ig n t it n e ns-mi C r and gnnected to said thiyd y'all @QCLOPQXQWQ therby when the ca; is ip mption, a setgqpd 7 vstorage battery in panajlel cqnnec tiqn w it h LQQQ??? 

